Study.

Three years ago, I signed up for the NCIDQ exam. (National Council for Interior Design Qualification). It’s a 2 day exam for a certificate to show that I am “uniquely qualified through education, experience and examination to competently practice interior design.” (That, my friends, is taken from the NCIDQ website.)

I have actually had people ask me what the test would consist of. Is it a test on what colors go together and what style of table lamp to use? Oh man. Is that really all people think I do? Questions like that just diminished my bachelor’s degree to a few nights in a Relief Society Enrichment activity.

The exam, as I mentioned, is a 2 day ordeal and costs around $850 to take. It takes place on a Friday and a Saturday, offered 2 times a year. Friday is an 8 hour day of multiple choice questions. The 8 hours on Saturday is spent drafting. Hand drafting. All of the sections (multiple choice and drafting) are created to test our knowledge on building codes (means of egress such as common paths of travel and exit distances, accessibility measurements and guidelines, fire ratings, etc.) professional practice, material sustainability… the list goes on and on. And this test has approximately a 65% pass rate. Nice.

The good news? They offer an expensive little 3 day class that preps you for the big day. That is where I spent my first weekend in February. In a drafting room surrounded by pencils, fodder, and practicum problems. But it DID turn out to be good news. I was nervous about what it would be like, and although I have 8 months, 7 books, and lots of timed drafting to wrap my head around before the test, I feel much better about accomplishing it.

Back to the books… Wish me luck.